Seats, tables, and the like



June 6, 1950 G. F. REED ETAL SEATS, TABLES, AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1945 m s D em .a E O u RG 2 HWM & M h 6 m MW M W V: I0

June 6, 1950 E r 2,510,293

' SEATS, TABLES, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 I {IIIIIIIIIII Patented June 6, 1950 George Frederick Reed and "William Henry Gould, Johahhesliur'g, Transvaal, Union of South Africa Application Febrimry 2o, 1945,.S'eri'al No. suasso. in the Union of South Africa February 22,

'3 Glaims.

This invention reiatesto seats or tariies fitted with occasional rests adapted to he normally stowed awa and to a large extent not of sight, but also adapted to he manuailyextended when desired and then to support light articles;

According to the invention the occasional rest when in its "extended position "constitutes a horizontal tray characterised by suitability for supporting light articles, having. a continuous for retaining such articles "on the floor of the tray, and extending from the chair or table at a position within. easy reach or a person sitting "in the seat or at the table. In its stowed position the rest is substantially 'withi'n thefperiphery of the seat or table and 'efxpo'ses'so little "of its own structure as to beef insignificant appearance and is without interference with the normal use or the seat or table.

In some cases the tray is in the rigid piece and so associated; with the seated itab'l-e as'to he movable bodily between stops that determine its extended and its stowed positions.

mother cases the tray isin two parts 'so hinged to one another as to form "two leaves capable of being folded together. In case one leaf is rigid with the article of furniture: the other "leaf, when folded, lying over the fixed leaf and, when extended, providing with the fixed leaf the continuous horizontal floorof the 'The hin'ge axis is about levelwith whatis the upper edge of the rim when the rest is extended.

When the tray is in-one 'rigid'piece, a side surface of the seat or table is fiormedwith-an orifice and the tray, forming a terminal portion "of a member of general flat form, is arranged to be projected --or retracted --through said orifice while the rest of the member "is retained within "the orifice by the stops. 'The means for engaging the rest of the member to'suppor't *theeii-tehded tray in its horizontal position may be provided within the orifice and may constrain -'tne member for movement within its'own plane. In an alternative arrangement the seat-or table provides an internal chamberof such 'formthat said member gravitationally rests in it "in a position in which the floor of the tray has a substantial vertical direction component. The tray may "be-provided with "an end surface that occupies "the orifice when the tray "stowed.

I'n thecaseof a'seatcomprisinga side arm the occasional rest is positioned on the arm at or towards the front end thereof and so "as when extended to project outwari'illy from said arm, that is away-from the seat. "Ther'above described hinged rest in this "case has'o'ne "leaf fixed tethearm in a 'horizontalposition and the 'foldedtr'ay constitutes the outer and upper corner of the arm. "The fixed :leaf 'isfin elevation, stepped down from the adjacent upper surface of the-arm, and the other leaf, when stowed by folding over the fixedleaf, fills the step and presents its back surface in continuation of said adiacentupper surface of the arm. For the sake of appearance it is desirable that the back surface o'fthe folding leaf should accord in appearance with "the remainder of the arm.

Preferably the fixed leaf is structurally separate from the 'arm structure and is fixed to the latter. One use of this arrangement is for dealing with the cut edges of the upholstery around the fixed leaf when the arm is upholstered.

Said out edges are hidden by said ,fixed leaf, and the back andsidesurfacesof the folding leaf of the tray are covered with upholstery the cut edges of which are similarly concealed by said leaf.

A card table according to this invention has several rests as described fitted-to-difierentedges of the table so that the extended trays project from said edges. When the rest consists of a folding tray, the fixed leaf is sunk below the table surfaceand the other leaf when folded providesits back as a continuation of the table surface. The rest for each table edge is positioned near to the left handedge-oi such edge so as to be accessible to the right :han'd'o-f a personwhosits-facing theedge to theleft of the edge to which the rest is fitted.

According to a further feature of the invention, an arm cha'u :is :provided with a folding tray as described at theend of each of itsarms. .Atable com-prising a body that :spans the chair :arms is provided with two test shaped to fit in the iope'n trays.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure I-shows a portion of an-arm chair or settee fitted'with :afoldinzg trayaccording "to the invention.

Figure 'I-I is a vertical section through the ar-m or the chair with the tray folded.

Figure III-'showsa folding tray fitted" to a card table, with the 'tray extended.

.i'gu-refiV is a similar view of 3 the same :tform with the tray folded.

Figure V is "a verticalsectionei Fleure'ilV.

Figure V1 is 'a plan of eard ta ble.

Figure VII shows the table with its hinged legs anama-ea. V

t lEfiigure VIII shows a sliding tray fitted to a card Figure IX is a vertical section of Figure VIII.

Figure X shows a sliding tray in a chair arm.

Figure XI shows an invalid table associated with trays in the arms of a chair.

Referring to Figures I and II, 2 indicates the arm of an arm chair. At the outer and upper corner of the arm is mounted the occasional rest consisting of the tray 3 of suitable size to receive such article as a cup and saucer, a tumbler, a box of cigarettes or the like. The tray comprises the base 4 and the rim 5, which latter is continuous about the base, or materially so. The tray 3 is constructed as two leaves 3a, 3b which are permanently connected to one another by the pair of hinges 6. The axis 1 of the hinges is level with the upper surface 8 of the rim 5.

One half 3a, of the tray is fixed to the framework 9 of the chair arm in a horizontal position and with its rim upward; and also with its hinge axis I about in the plane of the outer surface of the arm 2, so that the movable lea-f 3b can be opened out to the projected position of Figure I or folded over the leaf 3a as indicated in Figure II. In the Figure I position the leaves are alined horizontally to constitute the usable tray 3 with the inner end [faces ll of the leaves in contact; and giving to the hinged joint the rigidity due to the full depth I2 of the tray (including the rim) being available as an arm of. a bell crank lever pivoted at the axis 1 to resist torque due to the weight of the article on the arm represented by the leaf 32;. Since the axis 1 is in the plane of the surface 8 when the tray is folded, both faces II are level with the outer surface ll) of the arm. In the folded position the leaf 3b lies over the leaf 3a and conceals the whole tray as such.

The leaf 3a is stepped down from the adjacent upper surface [3 of chair arm 2; and the leaf 3b is made, either by itself or with additions, of the same thickness as the depth 14 0f the step. Accordingly when the tray is folded, the back surface 15 of the leaf 3b is level with the surface l3 and forms therewith the complete upper surface of the arm in conformity with normal chair form. Similarly the end face iii of the leaf 3b and its side face I! conform respectively with the inner face N3 of the chair arm and the front face l9 thereof.

Said structurally conforming surfaces are also made to conform in appearance so that upon casual inspection the arm does not differ from the normal arm in which the upper and outer corner is integral with the rest of the arm. That is to say if the arm exposes a wooden top surface the back of the leaf 3b may be a piece of the same wood.

In the example shown, the chair is upholstered and the presence of the tray necessitates the upholstery around the tray being out. In order to dispose of the cut edges in a workmanlike manner, the leaf 3a of the tray 3 is sunk level with a raised edge 20 forming part of the arm structure and surrounding the leaf 3a at the inside and end of the arm. The cut ends 2| of the inside and end panels of the upholstery are pulled over said edge 20 and secured inside the latter. The cut end 22 of the upholstery panel at the outside of the arm is secured to the surface 23 on which the leaf 3a rests; and said leaf 3a covers said end 22 and said surface 23.

A corresponding arrangement is provided for the leaf 3?). That is to say, said leaf 3121s closed 4 in at two sides and at its back by a block 24 of material, which is soft or hard as desired. This block is covered with the upholstery material and the loose ends 25 of the latter are enclosed between the tray 3b and the block 24.

The open end 26 of the folded tray directly between the hinges 6 is'suitably covered over, conveniently by a piece 21 of flexible sheet material such as the upholstering material. Said piece is secured to lie against the back faces 28, 29 of the base of the tray and not fixed to the end faces ll, so that when the tray is extended, said piece does not interfere with the mutual contact of said end faces, but hangs as a loop 30, Figure II.

Figures III to VII show the folding tray applied to an article of furniture of the table type --which includes desks-and which in the example is a card table. Figure VI shows the preferred disposition of four trays 3|, viz. near to the left hand end of each table edge 32, so as to be easily accessible to the right hand of a person who sits facing the table edge that is to the left of the table edge at which thetray is fitted.

33 indicates a sheet of plywood forming the table top and covered with a sheet 34 of baize. 35 is the usual wooden frame surrounding the table top and constructed of sticks considerably thicker vertically than the sheet 33. According to the invention, the sheet 33 is cut through at the edges 35 and the adjacent frame member 35 is cut down to form the notch 31 of the sill 38. A 'spacingframe 39 is fitted to the undersurface of 33 and around the edges 36; and the leaf 3a of the tray 3 is secured to said sill 38 and said frame 39. Said leaf 3a is secured to the sill 38 at such a depth below the table surface that the back 46 of leaf 3b is level with said surface when 31) is folded over 3a as shown in Figure V. The back 40 of leaf 3b is moreover covered with baize 34a, so that it completes the normal playing surface of thetable. If the customary vertical depth of the frame 35 is adhered to, the vertical depth of the tray may not be sufficient to give adequate rigidity at the hinged joint. In that case it is preferred to provide additional means for supporting the leaf3b .in its out-turned position, such as the ledge ll which is fixed to the sill 38 for said leaf 3b to come to rest on.

For good appearance it is preferred to inlay a strip of wood 42 that appears as a continuation of the upper surface 43 of the members of the frame 35. 44 -is a tab positioned between said strip 42 and the baize 34a to assist in lifting the folded-over leaf 3b. The usual hinged legs 45 of the card table are notched at 46 to allow said legs to be brought to their regular stowed position under the table top notwithstanding the presence of the trays and associated additional structure also under the table top.

. A card table fitted with one-piece sliding trays 4 1 is shown in Figures VIII and IX. Said tray 41 comprises the base 48 and'continuous rim 49 formed as an end element of a rigid flat sliding member 4i, 5! Said member 41, 50 slides horizontally in .the pair of guides constituted by the underside iil. of the table top 33 and by other supporting members such as the angle bars 52. The tray portion 4? is stepped down from the portion 50,. forming a shoulder 53.

A rectangular gap 54 is cut through the adjacent frame member 35 for the tray to slide through; and said shoulder 53 contacts with the portion v55 of said frame member 35 above the gap 54, to form a stop that limits the extending movement of the tray. The block 56 secured to the underside 51 of the table top 33 forms a second stop determining the inward or stowed position of the tray to that at which its end surface 51 is flush with the surface 58 of the frame 35.

Figure X shows a one-piece sliding tray associated with the arm 2 of a chair, in such a manner that the horizontal outward extension of the projected tray is fore-shortened to be accommodated within the width of the arm when the tray is stowed away. A chamber 59 is constructed within the thickness of the arm 2, having communication with the exterior through the rectangular aperture 60 in the outer side wall of the arm, defined by the frame 6|. The chamber is provided with a sloping floor 62 against which the tray 63 falls and lies upon being pushed into the chamber 59 as shown by the dotted lines. At the lower end of the floor is the stop 64 against which the end 85 of the tray falls and which is so positioned that, when the tray end 65 is resting against it, the section 66 of the tray rim at the outer end of the tray is within the aperture 60. The outer surface 61 of said rim section 65 is so shaped with regard to the tray base as to come fiush with the side surface 68 of the arm; and said surfaces 61 and 68 may be given the same appearance.

Figure XI shows an arm chair each arm of which is provided with the folding try 3 of Figure I. In connection with it there is provided an invalid table or book rest comprising a body 69 that spans the space between the arms and is provided with two feet shaped to support the table or book rest stably by fitting into the tray leaves 3a. For this purpose each foot is formed to rest on the base of the tray and is of rectangular shape in plan; and of such horizontal dimensions as to fit snugly within the rim of the tray.

We claim:

1. A chair the general shape of which conforms to that of chairs in common use comprising a seat, a side arm, the front portion whereof is stepped downwardly in elevation from the adjacent upper surface of the arm; and a tray suitable for the support of light articles and having a materially continuous rim; said tray being formed in two parts so hinged to one another as to provide two leaves foldable or unfoldable with respect to one another to bring the tray into a stowed or an extended position; one leaf being so fixed to said arm in a horizontal position in the said stepped down portionthereof, that, in the extended position of the tray, the tray projects outwardly from said arm away from said seat and within easy reach of a person sitting on said seat; and so that in the stowed position of the tray, it fills the step in said arm and presents its back surface in continuation of the said adjacent upper surface of said arm, to conform the shape of such arm to that of chairs in common use.

2. The chair claimed in claim 1 in which said back surface of the folding leaf accords in appearance with the unstepped portion of said arm.

3. The chair claimed in claim 1 in which said side arm is upholstered, except in said stepped down portion of the arm, the stepped down portion of the arm comprising a recess with a horizontal floor, the depth of the recess being equal to that of the fixed leaf and the fixed leaf being arranged in the recess and fixed therein; the out edges of the upholstery terminating at the stepped down portion of the arm being concealed by being turned into the recess and sandwiched between the recess walls and the fixed leaf; the folding leaf comprising a body member the back surface of which, when the leaf is in folded position, conforms to the arm contour leaf, and a lining member attached to the body member which provides the floor of that part of the tray provided by the leaf; the said back surface of the body member being covered with upholstery the cut edges of which are concealed by being inserted and. attached between the body member and the lining member.

GEORGE FREDERICK REED. WILLIAM HENRY GOULD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 142,418 Taylor Sept. 2, 1873 1,231,303 Seligman June 26, 1917 1,771,231 Parkinson July 22, 1930 1,869,444 Tobey Aug. 2, 1982 2,274,506 Streit Feb. 24, 1942 2,330,627 Reynolds Sept. 28, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,601 Great Britain Feb. 9, 1900 

